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Chromosome analysis in 13 patients with true Klinefelter's syndrome revealed in the majority of the cases a variation of the typical number of 47 chromosomes characteristic for the disease. The deviation varied in positive or negative direction or both, that is, in addition to the typical complement of 47 chromosomes the number ranged between 45 and 49. Clinically there was a pronounced correlation between the pathologic karyotypes and the low intelligence of the patients.

Unsere Kenntnisse über die Ätiologie der Hodenerkrankungen sind noch sehr lückenhaft. Neben den postnatal erworbenen Schäden steht die Gruppe der angeborenen Störungen, deren Häufigkeit und Bedeutung lange Zeit unterschätzt wurde. In der Erforschung der Ätiologie dieser Formen sind aber in den letzten Jahren wichtige Fortschritte erzielt worden, die u. a. wesentlich dazu beigetragen haben, unsere Vorstellungen von der embryonalen Geschlechtsdifferenzierung zu revolutionieren.Beim gegenwärtigen Stand des Wissens ist es verfrüht, eine Gliederung der angeborenen Hodenerkrankungen nach ätiologischen Gesichtspunkten zu versuchen. Einigermassen Klarheit besteht nur bei den Störungen der embryonalen Geschlechtsdifferenzierung (Klinefelter-Syndrom, adrenogenitales Syndrom, testiculäre Feminisierung). Bei den übrigen Erkrankungen dagegen ist der Anteil genetischer und peristatischer Faktoren unübersehbar.Vertieften Einsichten in die Störungen der embryonalen Geschlechtsdifferenzierung verdanken wir die bessere Kenntnis über den normalen Ablauf dieser Entwicklung. Folgende Grundgesetze lassen sich dafür aufstellen:Die Entwicklung der Gonaden hängt von den Geschlechtschromosomen ab. Hoden entwickeln sich nur bei Anwesenheit eines X

It is to a certain extent misleading to group the androgens, oestrogens and gestagens together under the common name of "Sex Hormones", for they all possess, quite apart from their specific sexual effects, marked metabolic properties. For many years intensive efforts have been made to separate the metabolic and specific sexual properties of these steroids, an ideal which was first realised with the synthesis of methylandrostenediol. In clinical practice, alas, this compound has failed to live up to the expectations which were cherished of it.The first truly usable compound was 19-nortestosterone-phenylpropionate, which we received in 1957 in order to analyse its action more closely. Together with Paradawe published our first studies on the subject in 1958. Since then, four years have gone by, and the number of publications has continued to increase, as also has our own experience.Continuing the search for active compounds, Overbeek & De Visser

The attempt to correlate the steroid excretion in hypogonadism with testicular and adrenocortical function requires the knowledge of the methods involved as well as that of the metabolism. This paper, therefore, will begin with a short discussion concerning the determination and the intermediary breakdown of steroid hormones. In the second part, the results obtained from well defined cases of hypogonadism are given and an explanation for the different findings is tried.The method of Dirscherl & Zilliken(1943), as modified by Allenand coworkers (1950) and Gardner & Migeon(1952), makes it possible to obtain a relatively specific estimation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). When looking for other colour reactions, we came upon the perchloric acid chromogens (Pontius, Beckmann & Voigt, 1955). Fig. 1 represents a survey of 28 steroids where the H2SO4/alcohol and the perchloric acid reaction were studied. The degree of the resulting colour reaction at

The urinary excretion of testosterone in 59 male individuals divided in »ten years« age groups (overall range 12–82 years) was determined according to the method of Voigt et al.(1964). This method does not necessitate the use of isotopes.Testosterone excretion increases after puberty and reaches between 25 and 35 years a mean maximum level of 70 μg/24 hours. In puberty and in adolescence mean testosterone excretion is 35 μg/24 hours, i. e.only one half of the amount present in the third decade of life. During the sixth and seventh decade testosterone excretion returns to the values of puberty and adolescence, i. e.to a mean value of 35 μg.It is thus evident that increasing age is accompanied by a significant reduction in testosterone excretion which reflects the physiological involution of the endocrine function of the testes.